Kirby Smart on his role at UA: 'I'm looking forward to it next year'

Kirby Smart works at Alabama's practice in Costa Mesa (Photo by Bill Starling/Press-Register)Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart met with the media this morning as part of the buildup to the BCS national title game. That, in itself, was special, since Nick Saban typically does not allow assistant coaches to be interviewed. Smart had not spoken publicly since August.

The 34-year-old Smart was engaging, funny and poised in front of the mass of cameras and tape recorders, talking about his friendship with Texas coordinator Will Muschamp, his relationship with Saban, Alabama's touted defense and the experience of winning the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant (Smart said he was "extremely" surprised about that one).

But the elephant in the room dealt with Smart's coaching future, and specifically his alma mater. Smart's name has popped up early and often for the defensive coordinator position at Georgia, which has remained vacant for more than a month,

Smart, to this point, is thought to have shrugged off initial interest from the Bulldogs, who are expected to continue to make a push for his services.

While not asked directly about UGA, Smart indicated this morning that he does indeed plan to be back at Alabama in 2010.

"It's been great," Smart said. "It's been great having these players and doing this, and I'm looking forward to it next year. I mean, we've got a lot of good players coming back. We're losing a lot of good ones too, but it's something that's special to be around, because these guys bought in and they went through some hard times. And now they're reaping the benefits, which they deserve."

In an interesting question, Smart was also asked about a former boss -- FSU's long-time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews -- and his own potential aspirations to possibly be a head coach.

"To be honest with you, I don't ever think about it or worry about that," Smart said. "I think Mickey Andrews had a hell of a career. He's a father figure to me. I worked for him for two years, and if I ended up coaching at Alabama for the next 30 years or however long he was at Florida State, I'd think my career was a pretty big success. No, I don't get concerned with it.

"My lifelong goal was to ultimately be a defensive coordinator, and if I ever got a chance at a head job, that would be great. But that's not something that I'm going to draw my career and say I was a failure, I didn't get to be a head coach or whatever. I'd be completely content with that. If a better opportunity presents itself, then obviously that's something down the road. But young as I am, I'm happy to be where I'm at and happy to be at the University of Alabama."